Jazz At Knicks: Game Night

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Welcome to KSL Sports Game Night as the Utah Jazz face the New York Knicks. Follow this page throughout the night for updates on the team’s pregame availability, starting lineups, and the highlights and thoughts on the game itself.

The Jazz are looking to rebound from a miserable outing Tuesday night against the Brooklyn Nets when they lost by a season-high 34 points.

The Knicks meanwhile have won four out of their last five games to limb to a 4-3 record, including Monday night’s win over the Atlanta Hawks.

The @utahjazz are looking for a bounce back performance against the @nyknicks tonight. #TakeNote https://t.co/RbGjk8oaiS

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 6, 2021

Pregame Availability

Before taking questions, Jazz coach Quin Snyder offered some thoughts on the violence occurring in Washington DC as the team prepared to take the floor.

“I think everybody on this call, in our locker room, around the country is aware of what’s going on today,” Snyder said. “It’s obviously really disturbing. There’s so much to process right now. And, your hope is that there can become some peaceful resolution. Obviously, it’s on all of our minds. And, whether it’s talking about it, there’s so much to digest and then hopefully, there can be some resolution.”

Afterward, Snyder answered questions regarding team’s game tonight, including sitting across the floor from former Jazz assistant coach Johnnie Bryant who is now the Knicks associate head coach.

The @nyknicks are reportedly hiring @utahjazz assistant Johnnie Bryant to be Tom Thibodeau's associate head coach.#TakeNote https://t.co/mPYijssTGy

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 18, 2020

“I was able to see him grow,” Snyder said of Bryant. “And we grew together. So, incredibly proud that he’s had this opportunity, and particularly with [Tom Thibodeau], and again always mixed emotions that you know miss his contribution. He’s just a heck of a coach.”

Starting Lineups

Starters for the @UtahJazz and @nyknicks.

Trent Forrest again active for the Jazz. pic.twitter.com/dV9hgD8EAX

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 7, 2021

First Quarter

The Jazz again start the game painfully slow. Just 1-7 to open the game, mixed in with a few turnovers and very little pressure at the rim.

It’s incredible how much different the game unfolds when the Jazz don’t establish Gobert early, but they’ve been working to get Bogdanovic on track with an early post up. He’s 0-2 to start the game.

The @UtahJazz are just 2-10 to start the game, and trail the @nyknicks 9-4.

Unlike last night, the Knicks aren't shooting as well as the Brooklyn Nets, as they are 4-9 on FG and 0-3 from three.

6:46 left in the first half. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2021

After the slow start, Bogdanovic scores a quick five points in transition. One layup off a Knicks turnover and another wide-open three because the Jazz pushed the ball up the floor after Mitchell Robinson fell out of bounds.

Bogdanovic appears to have found a rhythm which is important for the Jazz offense, especially if Donovan Mitchell continues to struggle (1-5 to start the game.)

The Jazz continued to take advantage of the Knicks turnovers, of which they had five over the first 12 minutes. The Jazz finished the quarter playing extremely well, connecting on 9-12 FG attempts and 3-6 from three.

At the end of the first quarter, the @utahjazz lead the @nyknicks 27-20.

Jazz close the quarter connecting on 9-12 FG after starting just 3-13.

Rudy Gobert leads the Jazz with 6 points. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2021

Second Quarter

The Jazz have steadily built their lead with the second unit as Joe Ingles and Jordan Clarson are taking over the game.

Clarkson has 10 points while Ingles has eight, and the two are a combined 7-10 from the floor and 4-6 from three.

The @UtahJazz second unit beginning to take over this game in the second quarter.

Fueled by 18 combined points from Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles, the Jazz are up 44-26 with 7:46 left in the half. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2021

The Knicks trim the Jazz one-time 18 point lead to 12 after a 6-0 run. Jazz aren’t doing anything different, but a few open shots didn’t fall and the Knicks capitalized.

Ingles is a staggering +21 in 13 minutes, hard to be much more impactful than that.

The Knicks closed the half on a 12-4 run to close the Jazz 18 point lead to just 12, but considering the slow start to the game, it was a good half for the Jazz on the second night of a back to back.

The question is can the Jazz continue to play well in the second half or will the extra minutes from last night’s game add up?

At the half, the @utahJazz lead the @NYKnicks 56-44.

Good half after a very slow start, however a 12-4 run from New York closed the Jazz lead from 18. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/fsSFdzCz5L

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2021

Third Quarter

The Knicks have been the better team to begin the third quarter, though the Jazz are shooting themselves in the foot.

Mitchell missed an open layup, while Mike Conley has clanked a three off the side of the backboard, then air-balled a floater, before throwing a terrible pass that got picked off by the Knicks.

The once 18 point lead is down to 5.

Mike Conley has had a tough start to the third quarter.

Air balled a floater, hit the side of the backboard on a three, and threw a careless turnover.

The @nyknicks have trimmed the @utahjazz 18 point lead to just 5, 62-57 with 6:57 left in the third. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2021

The Jazz starting lineup has been awful tonight. Gobert leads the lineup at +0, everyone else is -7 or worse. Meanwhile, the bench has been terrific, where everyone is +11 or better.

The Jazz starters allowed a 12 point lead to dissolve to just 4 to open the third quarter, now the bench needs to come in and rebuild the lead.

As the @nyknicks continue to run, the @Utahjazz lead has been trimmed to just 4, 68-64.

Julius Randle leads all scorers with 20 points.

Donovan Mitchell has 10 points on 4-12 shooting. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2021

Knicks complete the comeback by outscoring the Jazz 34-19 in the third quarter and turn a 12 point halftime deficit into a 3 point lead.

Jazz shot just 8-26 from the floor in the third, 3-12 from three and had five turnovers. Knicks on the other hand shot 58 percent from the floor and didn’t turn the ball over.

The @UtahJazz end the third quarter giving up easy running baskets to the @NYKnicks who erase a 12 point halftime deficit and lead by 3 heading into the fourth quarter.

Jazz lost the third 34-19. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2021

Fourth Quarter

After allowing the Knicks to build a 7 point lead, a quick 6-0 run trims it down to just one thanks to the Jazz finally executing the offense and not turning the ball over.

Will be interesting to see if Snyder is willing to go back to his starters on their regular rotation or if he leaves this bench unit which has been more successful on the floor tonight.

A quick 6-0 run from the @Utahjazz trims the @nyknicks lead to just 1.

That was an important stretch for the Jazz who were on the verge of giving the game away.

9:48 left in the game. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2021

Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic are a combined 6-22 from the floor and 3-12 from three.

Mitchell is -14 and Bogey is -17. Jazz hanging close despite their go-to scorers from last season shooting poorly once again.

After typing this, Mitchell gets a layup to go, followed by a mid range jump shot. This feels eerily similar to the Oklahoma City Thunder road game where Mitchell struggled all game but came alive in the final half of the fourth quarter.

With 4:41 left in the game, the @UtahJazz and the @NYKnicks are tied at 96.

Good stretch for the Jazz, led by Donovan Mitchell erased the Knicks lead. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2021

The Jazz had two good defensive possessions undone by Austin Rivers big shots. First, he hit a stepback three over Gobert, then followed it up by hitting runner as the shot clock expired off a broken play.

Rivers followed it up with three made threes against Royce O’Neale to sink the Jazz. He scored the final 14 points of the game for the Knicks and ended any chance the Jazz had to stick around.

The @UtahJazz lose 112-100 to the @NYknicks.

Jazz blew an 18 point first half lead, and a 12 point halftime lead.

Mitchell, Conley, and Bogdanovic combine to shoot 13-47 for 38 points.

Tough performance. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/zbeRqnJ8Gj

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 7, 2021